National Defense College of the Philippines Master’s in National Security Administration Program Conferment Ceremony

SPEECH

of

His Excellency BENIGNO S. AQUINO III

President of the Philippines

At the National Defense College of the Philippines Master’s in National Security Administration Program Conferment Ceremony

[September 3, 2010]

I am honored to stand before such a distinguished group of individuals from various government offices and public agencies. Today’s conferment of the Master’s in National Security Administration program to this year’s graduates is another milestone for the country’s premier defense and security educational institution, the National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP). For 47 years, you have contributed to the formation of our country’s leaders who are tasked to strengthen our national security. To all the dedicated men and women behind the NDCP, and to the past and present graduates of NDCP-MNSA, congratulations.

As a nation, we have a duty to defend the state and to insulate it from both national and international security threats. To achieve this, we need leaders who possess the skills and abilities to make the right decisions in tough and unexpected situations.

What happened last week was a wake-up call for our security agencies. The hostage situation revealed our deficiency in providing the tools and training needed by our police force to ensure the safety of our people, and that of foreign nationals who visit our country.

In light of this, NDCP, which was established to produce graduates that can respond quickly in times of crisis, has an important role in preventing a similar incident from happening again. NDCP alumni are trained to undertake hard decisions and to abide by their consequences. As new NDCP graduates, you are expected to bear the torch forward to ensure our national security.

Our people have been shackled for so long not only by violence, but also by the insecurity, cynicism, and paralysis that arises from violence. Together, we shalI defeat the enemy by wielding the tools of justice, social reform and equitable governance and by strengthening our security agencies. We will not allow those mistakes to happen ever again.